Steam-trap



H. H. MEAD. STEAM TRAP. AIPPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1919.

Patented Apr. 2 6, 1921.,

Mn. f

i, W 5 WW i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. MEAD, OF QUINCY, MICHIGAN.

STEAM-TRAP.

esteem.

Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,967.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD H. MEAD, a citizenof the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Branch andState of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam traps, and has for one of its objects tosimplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency andutility of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterof few parts, readily and quickly assembled and in which repairs andadjustments may be easily made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterin which the action may be observed without shutting off the flow of thesteam.

\Vith these and other objects in view, invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and thenspeclfically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrativeof the preferred embodiment of the invlention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the shell in section on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modificataion in theconstruction.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional details illustrating the improved traparranged as a balanced valve.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The improved trap comprises a main body or shell formed of a' relativelylarge, preferably cylindrical, portion 10 and a reduced, preferablyoblong, communicating portion 11.

The side walls of the reduced portion 11 of the shell are connected by ahorlzontal partition 12 and a vertical partition 13 forming an air orexpansion chamber 14 therein as shown.

The side walls of the portion 11 of the shell are likewise connected bya web 15 having an internally threaded boss 16 to receive the intakepipe 17 v The lower sides of the portions 10 and 11 of the shell areclosed by a continuous bottom 18. the part of the bottom which isdisposed beneath the portion 11 being dethe Ipressed as shown to form asettling cham- The cylindrical portion 11 of the shell 1s provided witha detachable closure 19 preferably arched upwardlv as shown. while thechamber 14 is provided with a detaehable closure 20. By this arrangementthe two parts of the interior of the shell are readily and independentlyaccessible.

Formed through the bottom 12 of the chamber 14 is an opening 21 having avalve seat'to receive a downwardly opening valve 22.

A relatively large float 23 is located with n the portion 10 of theshell, and is provlded with a depending hanger 24 to which an operatinglever 25 is pivoted as shown at 26.

The lever is provided with a plurality of apertures for the pivot 26 sothat the lever may be achustably coupled to the hanger and float. Thefloat is thus free to adapt itself to the level of the water in thecasing 10 and engages the same with equal pres sure at all points.

Supports 28 are formed upon the inner faces of the side walls of thereducedportron 11 and recessed, preferably in V shape, to receive theterminals of the fulcrum pins of the lever 25, as shown.

The fulcrum element of the lever 25 is 7 located relatively near thevalve 22, to provide a strong leverage to the float in its operation ofthe valve.

By this arrangement, it will be obvious that the vertical movement ofthe float will control the position of the valve 22.

The bottom 12 of the chamber 14 is spaced a considerable distance abovethe bottom of the shell, and the water will stand normally above thelower line of the chamber, or so that the lower portion of the chamberis constantly immersed in the water. The only means of communicationbetween the body of the shell and the chamber 14 is through the valveopening 21, and this opening is sealed by the condensate in the shell incoaction with the valve 22.

By this arrangement the steam under pressure will not pass to thechamber 14, while the surplus condensate when a suflicient amountaccumulates to elevate the float 23 above a predetermined distance, willopen the valve 22 and permit the surplus to pass to the chamber 14 andthence through the escape pipe 29.

and is an important feature of the device.

Another important function of the chamber 14 is that the valve 22 or itsseat are unaffected by any bending or displacing of the discharge pipe29, when assembling or installing the apparatus.

By providing the stem 27 of the ,valve 22 with the adjusting nuts, asshown, the valve may be set to open at any predetermined stage of thecondensate. With a trap thus constructedv it is immaterial how high orlow the pressure may be as it will not permit steam to pass to thechamber 14, nor will it hold water back, and cause it to overflow intothe coils or other portions of the system..

The capacity of the shell will be the sizes of the pipes and coils withthe trap.

\Vhen the trap is installed in a line under boiler pressure, with a.discharge pipe 29 about 1 inch in diameter, the capacity of the trapwill be equal to the amount of condensate that can be forced through a 1inch pipe at the pressure under which the trap is working no matter whatthe gage pressure may be.

The improved trap may also be effectually used in an exhaust steam line,as will be obvious.

The trap operates automatically after being properly installed andadjusted and automatically regulates itself and does not depend upon theexpansion or contraction of members.

If found necessary the cover 20 of the chamber 14 may be detachedwithout disgaged by associated connecting the trap, as the steam cannotblow through, thus permitting the inspection of the interior of thechamber and the operativeness of the valve 22 at all times.

Detachable plugs indicated at 30 are preferably provided in the walls ofthe shell opposite the fulcrum device to enable the latter to beinspected without removing the bottom 18 or other parts.

The whole shell or body is in four parts only, connected by bolts orlike fastening devices, and also provided with suitable-dowel pins,indicated at31, to insure the ready and accurate assembling of theparts, and the corresponding accurate seating of the valves.

Under some circumstances a more rapid discharge of the condensate may berequired, and in that casethe modification shown in Fig. 3 may beemployed consisting in providing an opening 32 in the deflected portionof the bottom 18 and seating a valve 33 in its inner end and couplingthis valve by its stem 34 to the lever 25; When the modified structureis employed the opening 21 will be moved nearly to the discharge end ofthe chamber 14 and the fulcrum device located midway between the valves.

By this arrangement the valves will be operated simultaneously and thedischarge of the condensate accelerated.

The intake 17 may be located at other points than in the web 15,instance in the main body 10 dotted lines 35 in Fig. 1.

The improved device may likewise be arranged for use as a balancedvalve, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

What I claim is: 1. In a trap of the class described, :1 casif required,for as indicated by ing including a laterally enlarged chamber at oneend and an elevated expansion chamber at the other end, said elevatedchamber having an intake valve and a discharge opening, a lever poisednear one end and attached at its shorter end to the valve, and a floatwithin the enlarged chamber and pivotally supported on the longer end ofthe lever.

2. In a. trap of the class described, a casing including a laterallyenlarged chamber at one end and an elevated chamber at the other end anda settling chamber beneath the elevated chamber, said elevated chamberhaving an intake valve and a discharge opening and said settling chamberhaving a depression in alineme-nt with the valve, apiston operative inthe depression and connected to the stem of the valve, a lever poisednear one end and attached at its shorter end to the stem of the valve,and a float within the enlarged chamber and supported by the longer endof the lever.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

HOWARD H. MEAD.

